Middle Smithfield Township dog park hosts celebration for happy pets

A second annual Pet Expo will mark one year since fencing was installed for the Middle Smithfield Dog Park in the 13-acre Middle Smithfield Township Judy Putek Park on Municipal Drive.

SUSAN JORSTAD

A second annual Pet Expo will mark one year since fencing was installed for the Middle Smithfield Dog Park in the 13-acre Middle Smithfield Township Judy Putek Park on Municipal Drive.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 24 and will feature 50 vendors, a dog cookies stand (which sold out last year), Banfield Pet Hospital, demonstrations by PetSmart trainer Laurie Bowen and her border collies, a big cake and more.

"AWSOM (Animal Welfare Society of Monroe animal shelter) will be there," Middle Smithfield Township Director of Parks and Recreation Joyce Bush said. "The purpose of the expo is celebration. It's just a happy affair, a nice big happy affair."

The dog park is open daily from dawn to dusk.

There are two fenced sections, and waste receptacles are available for owners to dispose of pet waste. Rules are posted.

"It's self-policing. Clean up after yourself," Bush said. "The dog park is cleaner than a lot of the other parks."

Bush visits the park with her two Labradors regularly, including Wednesday evenings, which she's dubbed "labbie and company" since a number of owners have a standing "date" to bring their labs to play.

"Little pups come once they get all their shots — brothers and sisters — they're so happy when they get together," Bush said.

"Dolly Mama, an 11th-hour rescue out of New Jersey, used to be so petrified, she would stand in a corner just watching the other dogs play. Now she runs up and down the field with her buddies."

The park provides a large open space for dogs to stretch their legs and really run, something they often can't do where they live.

"The park gives them room to run, and socialization cuts down on the aggressiveness of the dogs. I think a lot of dogs end up in rescue because people give up on them. There are no bad dogs, just bad owners," she said.

Bush is working to build a kiosk for agility training, to include a photo memorial in honor of Jake, a border collie that many knew for his smarts and training classes with owner and trainer Laurie Bowen at PetSmart in Stroudsburg.

"That park is such a blessing — it's brought people together," Bush said. "There's not a day goes by there's not someone at the park. They come as early as 6 in the morning. It's not the coffee break, it's the dog break."